The stereotype of the angry Black criminal is a common one in American media. As Kelly Welch (2007) notes, "throughout American history, Blacks have been consistently stereotyped as criminals... the evolving criminal image of Blacks appears to be of a more threatening nature." Ronald Jackson (2004) agrees, positing, "racialized images of Black men presented by the media are synonymous with poverty, crime, and a number of other social ills." This is not a new phenomenon in video games, either. Melinda Burgess ''et. al'' (2011) explain that Black men in games are, "overrepresented as thugs, using extreme guns," and that this representation can, "[confirm] the culturally held stereotype of the Black male criminal." (91) By implementing narrative and gameplay design that features a brutish Black man murdering men and women over and over again, often without remorse, mercy or self-reflection, ''Mafia III'' becomes complicit with this trend of representation.  

The stereotype of the angry Black criminal is a common one in American media. As Kelly Welch (2007) notes, "throughout American history, Blacks have been consistently stereotyped as criminals... the evolving criminal image of Blacks appears to be of a more threatening nature." Ronald Jackson (2004) agrees, positing, "racialized images of Black men presented by the media are synonymous with poverty, crime, and a number of other social ills." This is not a new phenomenon in video games, either. Melinda Burgess ''et. al'' (2011) explain that Black men in games are, "overrepresented as thugs, using extreme guns," and that this representation can, "[confirm] the culturally held stereotype of the Black male criminal." (91) By implementing narrative and gameplay design that features a brutish Black man murdering men and women over and over again, often without remorse, mercy or self-reflection, ''Mafia III'' becomes complicit with this trend of representation.